Surgical dressing



April 2l, 1942. R T,l B'ETTS 2,280,506

SURGICAL DRESSING Filed March 10, 1941 .lnlmmnl BY i la ,524 Ziorzz'ey Patented Apr. 2l, 1942 I gar Richard T. Beas, New York, N. Y.

Application March 10, 1941, Serial No. 382,516 f 1 claim. (c1. 12s-156) This invention relates to surgical appliances in general, and particularly to a surgical dressing adapted to relieve pressure against sensitive or diseased parts of the body, such as corns, bunions, or the like.

The prime object of the present invention s to provide a surgical dressing structure of a continuous type, from which individual strips containing cushioning pads may be cut, and wherein the cushioning pad of each strip is confined in a recess, formed in the body of the dressing structure, and which recess is forcibly kept in its intended form for the purpose of preventing the spreading of the cushioning material beyond the conne of the recess, when the cushioning pad is subjected to pressure.

Another object of this invention isto provide a continuous surgical dressing structure consisting of a longitudinal adhesive tape member, wherein is formed along its substantially longitudinal center portion either a continuous recess, or a series of individual recesses, in either type of which recess a cushioning element is imbedded, and completely lls the space in such recesses, and wherein means are provided for retaining the recess or recesses in the intended recessed shape, so that the spreading of the cushioning element beyond the confine of the recess is successfullyV prevented when subjected to pressure.

The foregoing and 'numerous other objects and important advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the ensuing description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and in which latter:

Fig. 1 illustrates the toe portion of a foot to which individual cushioning pad strips of the present invention are secured;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the presently preferred forms of my continuous surgical dressing structure;

Fig. 3 is a top view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of my surgical dressing structure;

Fig. 5 is a top View thereof;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of my continuous surgical dressing structure;

Fig. 'I is a perspective View of still another embodiment of my cushioning pad strip;

Fig. 8 is a modied form of the strip, shownV in Fig. 7, in its partly finished state;

Fig. 9 is a cross section taken on line S-S of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of another type of my continuous surgical dressing structure;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a structure similar to that showninl Fig. 10:

Fig; 12 is a section 'taken on line I2I2of Fig.

ll; l. l.

Fig. lS-is still another-modification of my continuous surgical dressing structure; and

Fig. 14 is a s'ection'taken on line III-I4 of Fig. 13. f f

Referring now specically to Figs. `2 and 3, my device Vconsistsof a longitudinal upper adhesive tape member Iii, which is raised at II along its longitudinal center lportion to form a continuous recess, in which latter is disposed a continuous cushioning element I2,;which completely fills the space within the` recess. The marginal areas of upper tape member Iii); which are adjacent to and which' extend from the sides of recess I I, are providedV at their enti-re bottom surfaces with adhesive matter. To these adhesive bottom surfaces of the marginal areas of `the upper tape member are secured corresponding upper surfaces ofr another, lower tape member I3, which latter is preferably provided with adhesive matter at both of its faces. fTape member' I3 is stretched across and effectively bridges recess II and also bears against cushioning element I2. Covering the outer or `lower adhesive surface of tape member I3 is a removable strip I4, adapted to shield the adhesive V,matter and prevent it, prior to its removal, from sticking when the surgical dressing structure is handled. Whenl this shield or cover I4 is removed, itexposes the adhesive surface of member I3 and facilitates the application of the structurefv The fact that member t3 bridges recess I I and firmly engages the entire lower surfaces ofthe marginal areas of memberl I0, adjacent to recess I I, and furthermore sincemember I3 also engages the lower surface of cushioning element I2, and takes upv the pull resulting from the application of the dressing to thebody, element I2r is forcibly retained within the Yconfine of recess II, which .latter is prevented from changing its shape.

Thus the spreading `of the cushioning pad, beyond the confine of the recess, is successfully obviated when the pad is subjected to pressure. It is the intent of this invention that from the continuous structure shown in Figs. 2 and 3 individual cushioning pad strips be cut,r` in the manner indicated in Fig. 3 by broken elines I5.v These indi vidual strips, denotedat I6 in Fig. 1,. canthen be readily applied to any part of the body, after the exterior protective layer I4 is removed from the lower adhesive surface of member I3.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modied form of my surarrangement the stitching is held close to thev vertical edges of recess I8, whereby the recess is retained in its intended shape; consequently cushioning member I9, completely filling the recess is prevented from spreading, when subjected to pressure.

In Fig. 6 a structure similar tov that illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is shown, in that an adhesive tape member I1 is provided with a recess I8', which latter is held in shape by a bridging or retaining member 28', stitched at.2I' to the marginal area surrounding the recess; but in addition a zigzag stitching 22 transverses both the recessed material of tape member I1', as well as the cushioning member I 9 and the retaining member 20. In this fashion cushioning member I9 is more securely prevented from spreading in respect to recess I8", and especially in respect to its open sides. In both structures shown in Figs. 4 and 6 1` a removable protective covering I4 is provided for the undersurface of tape members I1 and I1 and bridging members 20 and 28'.

Referring now to the modifications shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, and starting with the illustration shown in Fig. 8, an adhesive tape member 23 is recessed at 24 for the accommodation of a cushioningelement 25. In engagement with the undersurface of tape member 23 is another adhesive tape member 26, which is cut in the form of a cross to provide side flaps 21. The latter are turned upwards, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9, to engage the top of recess 24, thereby-completely enclosing cushioning element 25. The undersurface of the longitudinal portion of tape member 26 is preferably provided With an adhesive, which is covered by a removable protective layer 28. Flaps 21 possess adhesive matter on their inner, recess-engaging surfaces only.

Somewhat different modiiications of my coni tinuous surgical dressing structure are illustrated in Figs. 10 to 14. In Fig. 10 is employed a continuous adhesive tape 29, from which are formed individual, spaced recesses 30-of a substantially square design, into which recesses are placed individual cushioning elements which completely iill the spaces Within the recesses. Surrounding each recess 30 is a raised area 3|, to the lower i face of which is attached a retaining member 32, adapted to keep the recess in its intended, recessed shape. This retaining member not only engages the undersurface of raised portion 3|, but also adheres to the undersurface of the cushioning member, not shown in this figure. The undersurface of tape member 29, and preferably also that of retaining member 32, is provided with an adhesive film, which is covered b-y` a removable protective layer 33. In Figs. 11 and 12 a structure verysimilar to that described in connection with Fig. 10 is illustrated, with the exception that the shape of recess 30 is oblong instead of square. In Fig. 12 cushioning element 34 is shown in section, so' that the structure illustrated in Fig. 10, in which the element cannot be seen, may be more readily understood.

Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, wmodified form, somewhat different from that shown in Figs. 10 and 11, is illustrated, wherein again a continuous adhesive tape 35 is employed, in which are formed spaced annular recesses 36, into which are placed disc-like cushioning elements 31, which are held within the recesses by an annular retaining member 38. The latter is preferably made from adhesive material coated at both of its faces with adhesive matter. The undersurface of adhesive tape 35 and of retaining member 38 is covered by protective layer 39 of any suitable material.

The illustrations shown in Figs. 10 to 14, inclusive,` are meant to denote individual cushioning pad strips, separated from continuous surgical dressing structures, similar to that described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3. The same applies to the modifications shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The only independent cushioning pad strip is shown in Figs. '7 to 9, but even that device may be considered a part of a continuous surgical dressing structure wherein these independent pad strips are secured to` a continuous protective member 28.

While in the foregoing a number of specic forms of my invention were described, it is quite obvious that changes and improvements may be made therein, as long as the principle of my invention is adhered to. This principle involves the production of a continuous surgical dressing structure provided with distinct cavities or recesses for the reception and retention of a cushioning element, and wherein means are provided for taking up the pulling strain of attachment to which said recesses or cavities would be otherwise subjected, thereby retaining such recesses or cavities in their intended shape, so as to prevent the spreading of the cushioning element in respect to these recesses or cavities when subjected to pressure.

serve for myself the right to make changes and improvements in my surgical dressing, without departing from the broad scope of my invention, as defined in the annexed claim.

I claim:

In a surgical structure, upper and lower adhesive members, the former having a recess of a definite cross section with substantially perpento which the upper member would otherwise be subjected when the structure is applied to the body, thus preventing the deformation o'f the recess and the spreading of the cushioning element therewithin, said lower member being adapted to be adhesively attached to the body.

RICHARD T. BEI'IS. 

